Page 9 of Passions in Death
Crack’s gaze skimmed over the partygoers. “Not one of these girls. No fucking way.”
“There’s always a way, but I don’t know yet. Who else knew about the room?”
“Just me, far as I know.” He put a tube of Pepsi on the bar. “She was real insistent on that.”
“You gave her the swipe.”
“Yeah, she came in right around noon, picked it up. Said it was real cloak-and-dagger stuff. She was so fucking happy. The happy just bounced off her.”
“Did she come alone?”
“Yeah, just Erin. And in and out, like she had an appointment.”
“How about tonight? Did she come in by herself?”
“No, her and Shauna together, and a couple of others right behind them.”
“Did she have a case, like a small overnight bag?” Eve held out her hands to indicate size. “A black case.”
“I saw that, that case on the bed. No. She wasn’t carrying it, or anything but that little purse.”
“Did you notice her go out at any point?”
“Outside.” He frowned, rubbed at his neck. “Don’t think so. She and Shauna got here early, maybe nine-thirty. Most come in closer to ten, or some after.”
“You had to take a break or two. You don’t work the stick straight through.”
“Took fifteen about ten-thirty maybe, gave it over to Renee. Shit, she’s good on the bar, but doesn’t have a sharp eye, not so much.”
“I’d like to talk to her, and to the one who found Erin.”
“That’s Pete. I got him calmed down some. You want a room?”
“No, here’s fine.”
“I’ll get Renee first, give him a little more calm time. Get you something?” he asked Roarke.
“I’m good. He’ll carry this,” Roarke added when Crack walked away. “Thinking he should’ve seen something.”
“I can wish he had, but it’s not on him.”
A woman came out, dark skin, red lips, some fear in her eyes. And built, like all of the staff.
“I’m Renee. Crack said you needed to talk to me.”
“You were tending bar when Crack took his break.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She pushed a hand over a cap of rainbow-colored hair. “He had me relieve him, I don’t know, about ten-thirty. Thereabouts.”
“Did you notice anyone leaving, or coming in when you were on the stick?”
“Um. Um.”
“Those are lovely earrings,” Roarke commented.
Some of the fear died away as she lifted a hand to one of the fist-sized silver stars. “Thanks. They’re my favorite. Erin— Oh God.”
Fear trickled back as she put a hand to those red lips.
